LWC - Frankenstein's Castle - 5 Years BDC

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

Etta looked in the mirror, seeing herself for the first time since waking up with no memory of what had happened and cringed. She was a complete mess and with the added splatters of blood, well, the person staring back at her scared her a bit. Again, she felt tears sting the back of her eyes at the realization that she'd hurt someone. She quickly turned away, determined not to break down until she knew exactly what she was breaking down about.

She stepped out of her clothes, dropping them in a pile in the corner, and eased into the tub of hot water. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, sighing as the hot water relaxed her.

[The Doctor]

Victor returned, holding a bundle of towels beneath one arm, with a stack of neatly folded clothes on top of it. Standards of cleanliness around the house had slipped since he dismissed the help. He knocked lightly on the door.

"Etta?" he called above the splash of water. "Etta, I have some towels and clothes for you here. I'll just leave them here, shall I?"

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

Etta didn't realize that she'd started to doze until Victor's voice startled her awake. She opened her eyes and looked toward the door. "Yes, thank you. That'll be fine," she called out.

She grabbed the soap and started scrubbing away the filth and dried blood, wishing it was possible to just as easily scrub away the events of the day.

[The Doctor]

Victor retired to his room, sighing deeply as he dropped his coat on a chair near his bed. The day - or rather the week, or month - had been tiring in every way. Between burying his father, locking up his brother and dealing with Etta...he was exhausted.

And he was in love with his dead brother's fiance.

He stripped down to his underwear, and the events of the day fell upon him. Victor snubbed out the candles with wetted fingers, and instantly collapsed on the bed.

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

The clothes were baggy but comfortable. Etta towel-dried her hair as she walked to her room, leaving her own clothes in a pile in the bathroom. She'd rather deal with them in the morning than to have them haunting her in the same room where she'd be sleeping.

It wasn't long before she drifted off into an unsettling slumber. A nightmare had her tossing and turning. Horrible flashes of images of someone moving through an alleyway, stalking a person like an animal stocking prey. When the monster lunged at the person, she awoke with a gasp and sat up, hugging her knees and rocking herself. The most frightening thing about the nightmare was that it was from the viewpoint of the monster. She feared this was no nightmare, but memories of what had occurred during the time she'd lost.

She couldn't handle seeing more which meant sleep was something she intended to avoid as long as possible. What she needed was Gerhardt. Even the smallest look of recognition and love during his few lucid moments were enough to bring her comfort and fill her with warmth. Victor denied her access to Gerhardt but she didn't need his permission; only the keys which he carried on his person. She had every right to see her fiance whenever she wished.

Etta found herself standing at Victor's bedroom door, her courage waning now that she was there. She used her sleeve to wipe the tears from her face with determination and slowly opened the door, closing it behind her. She stood still, listening for the steady, even breathing of sleep before quietly making her way to his discarded clothing. Why did they have to be so near the bed?

She carefully reached into one coat pocket and then the other until feeling the cool metal ring of keys. Holding her breath, she carefully pulled them from the pocket. The blade of one key caught on the edge of the pocket, causing it to clink against the other keys when she'd finally lifted it free. She sucked in a breath and froze, eyes flying to Victor to see if she'd woken him up.

[The Doctor]

In Victor's mind, Gerhardt was forever beating his father to death. His mother looked on, and blood burst from the head of Alphonse...and then Gerhardt. Every stitch opened and gushed darkness, and suddenly it wasn't Alphonse dying beneath his brother....it was Etta. Victor couldn't move. He was trying, with all his might, but...he couldn't. Nothing was holding him back. He was just...still. He couldn't even scream. He could only watch.

"Etta," he groaned in his sleep, grunting and tightening his eyes. Victor squirmed uncomfortably.

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard her name. She was sure she'd been caught. But he'd sounded distressed rather than angry and said nothing more. After a couple of minutes, she relaxed, realizing that he'd only been dreaming. She looked away from him, feeling guilty, assuming that the burden she was putting on him was burdening him even in his sleep. He'd been through so much and here she was, asking him to take on even more.

Etta quietly left the room, carefully shutting the door behind her and headed for the tower dungeon.

"Gerhardt?" she said quietly, her voice echoing off the walls. She peered through the bars, finally finding him crouched in a dark corner of the cell. It broke her heart to see him like this. She unlocked the door and walked slowly toward him, letting him process her presence and hoping to spark his memory of her. She slowly knelt down in front of him. "It's your Etta," she said, her love for him in her voice and eyes. She slowly but cautiously lifted a hand toward him, wanting to caress his face.

[The Doctor]

GERHARDT

Gerhardt...was in the cage. He was in the cage, and he was still. Pain was rising within him, and falling, and rising in every single unearned breath. Gerhardt did not know how long he'd been in the cage. Time had become...unclear. Hours and minutes blurred together until there was no way to-

A watch. There had been a watch, hadn't there? A little glimmering thing in his hand. A thing he had coveted but also caused guilt, for he had recieved it in a harsh way. He had recieved it because...well, what? He couldn't remember entirely. He just remembered an empty uniform and medals glistening against dark velvet, like candles in the night. He remembered the watch, hiding in his breast pocket like a burning chunk of pure guilt...and there was something else burning in his chest too.

The bullet, and bullets came from guns, and there had been guns in the war. Triggers snapped and smoke rose from holes in the heads of his friends. Flesh was twisted and gnarled like old wood, but wet with blood. He didn't know when that had happened. But there had been another gun, in Victor's hands and-

Victor. Victor-Victor-Victor. His brother. His betrayer. His

His
            responsibility
                                       his scientist brother father mother etta

his etta

And there had been a watch, hadn't there? A little glimmering thing in his hand-

"Gerhardt? It's your Etta,"

The voice felt like a cannon next to his head, ripping through his thoughts and sending blinding flashes of pain through his vision. And then came the touch, at which his whole body seized up and he knew only pain. Pain and fury, fury for the pain came from whoever was touching him and speaking to him.

He needed it to be over.

Gerhardt reached blindly with powerful hands, gripping the intruder - the enemy - by the throat. And a pair of eyes looked up into him, through him, opening him. Etta. The woman he'd known, the beauty he'd loved and vowed to spend a life with. Memories moved past him in brief glimpses, like the light in a passing carriage: momentary and leaving only an imprint. He released her. "Etta," he grunted, the effort of speaking causing him yet more pain. "Etta."

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

Her eyes flew open in shock as he suddenly had a grip around her throat. Finally, she saw the recognition in his eyes and he let go, leaving her coughing and gasping for air. She massaged her neck, grimacing and knowing there would be bruising. Something she'd have to hide from Victor in order to avoid angering him for going against his refusal to let her see Gerhardt and having him take extra measures to keep her from being near him again.

Etta started to reach out to him again and stopped short. She longed to soothe him in the comfort of her embrace and tell him that everything was going to be alright. She clasped her hands in her lap to stop herself from fulfilling the urge to touch him. It seemed to anger him. Or bring him pain. Perhaps it was both. She knew she heard pain in his voice but was unsure if it was a physical pain or a pain brought on by the guilt of hurting her.

"It's going to be alright. I'm alright," she assured, covering both possibilities. "There is no need for words or touch, my Dear Heart," she said, calling him by the name that had begun as a teasing jest on his name and had later grown into an endearment. "Just being near you is enough."

She wished that were true but it wasn't enough, especially since he wasn't always 'here' with her. It was what had prompted her to work tirelessly to find a cure.

[The Doctor]

GERHARDT

His chest ached, a dull type of agony that stood out even against the waves of pain that were his only constant. Gerhardt wanted to remember. He knew just enough to know something was missing. It was something within his reach, but...unclear. His mind was fogged up; his memories were blurs. Gerhardt pulled away from Etta, stumbling back against the wall. He was suddenly aware of the light, the light that came from somewhere, and he covered his eyes.

With a great cry of agony, he pulled at his hair, tearing out clumps. He wanted to cry and scream and do something, anything, but he couldn't articulate what. "Etta..." he gasped out painfully through a throat clotted with blood. He forced himself to look at her, eyes unblinking. For a moment, there wasn't any pain. There was no fog, no doubt...and his memories stood out in sharp images. He knew he loved her, and he knew that was the greatest cruelty of all. It was an evil thing, to glimpse what you lost. "I know, Etta. I can't...I just can't...see through the storm."

And then, it was gone. He forgot everything and became empty. Gerhardt rose, and lunged violently towards her-

"Gerhardt!"

Victor was standing in the doorway, holding a fireplace poker in one hand. He swiftly struck Gerhardt in the chest, and the monster recoiled with groans of anger and agony. "No, Gerhardt! No!" cried Victor, poking at him and forcing him to retreat to his corner.

"Vic...tor?" asked Gerhardt slowly.

"Yes, Gerhardt. It's all going to be fine, but we don't harm our guests," said Victor, his tone growing gentler. He backed away, and seized Etta by the arm. "I'll be back shortly to check on you. Just face the floor, Gerhardt."

Gerhardt obeyed, looking down and sobbing. He wasn't sure why he was sobbing.

VICTOR

He pulled Etta out of the cell, shutting it behind him with a loud clang. Then, he rounded on her. "I told you explicitly that you couldn't see him."

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

"I know, Etta. I can't...I just can't...see through the storm."

For a moment, he'd looked at her with such clarity that she was overwhelmed with joy. Then in the next instant he lunged at her and the emptiness and anger were terrifying. She fell back in her haste to retreat and reflexively held her arms up to block the attack but it never came.


"Gerhardt!" "No, Gerhardt! No!"

She dropped her arms to see Victor wielding a fireplace poker. "Don't hurt him!" she cried out.


"Vic...tor?"

"Yes, Gerhardt. It's all going to be fine, but we don't harm our guests," "I'll be back shortly to check on you. Just face the floor, Gerhardt."

Henrietta got to her feet, watching in shock and horror as the scene played out. He'd been right. There was hardly anything of Gerhardt left in the broken, stitched up being that occupied this cell. Etta did not put up a fight when Victor seized her by the arm and numbly let herself be dragged out. When she heard Gerhardt's sobs, she was filled with overwhelming pain and sorrow and tears burned her eyes.


"I told you explicitly that you couldn't see him."

She wanted to yell and scream at him. Tell him he had no right to tell her what to do and no right to keep her from Gerhardt but when she looked him in the eyes--eyes similar to his brother's--the dam broke and she threw her arms around Victor, holding tight as sobs racked her body. She cried harder than when she'd first heard of Gerhardt's death. It had been hard enough to lose him completely but to see him like this, to have him look at her in pain and anger and to not be recognized by him was far more painful.

[The Doctor]

Victor stepped back a little, pushed by the force by which Etta threw herself into his arms. He didn't hug her back at first; he was utterly still. The poker clattered to the floor. "I'm sorry," he whispered, feeling entirely impotent. "I'm sorry, I can't....do more. I'm sorry I did this."

With great relunctance, he extricated himself from her. "But you can't do this again. I want to give him back to you, I just...can't right now. And you can't go in there."

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

Etta kept her eyes on the ground, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "I won't." And she meant it. She couldn't bear to see Gerhardt like that so until they came up with a way to fully bring him back, she would keep her distance. "We shouldn't prolong his agony for much longer," she added quietly. "If we can't find a cure soon..." she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

[The Doctor]

"I know, I know," said Victor, avoiding her tearful eyes. "One way or the other, he won't live with the pain much longer. But I'll try. I'll absolutely try."

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

She nodded silently. The sounds of Gerhardt's sobs were tearing at her heart. Henrietta mechanically moved toward the staircase and paused at the steps, remembering her nightmare. She turned back toward Victor and opened her mouth to tell him but quickly shut it. Maybe that's all it was; a nightmare. Until they received word of what occurred in the village, she decided against mentioning it and settled for a simple, "Goodnight," and began descending the stairs.

[The Doctor]

Victor watched her leave, and then turned to rest his forehead against the cold bars. Gerhardt's sobs eventually turned silent. "I can still fix this," he whispered into himself, and after a moment, stood away from the bars and left.

[Hollywood Heidi]

HENRIETTA

Henrietta attempted to go back to sleep and just as she suspected, every time she began to drift off, the same nightmare began to replay. She punched her pillow in frustration and sat up, staring blindly across the dark room. Sleep was not an option so she tosses the sheets aside and padded barefoot to the door, intent on doing something productive with the rest of the hours until morning.

She quietly made her way to the library, closing the door behind her before switching on the lights. Etta gently ran her hands along the spines as she read the titles, selecting a few medical journals based on studies of the mind before settling down in one of the large armchairs. Tucking her legs underneath her, she grabbed the first journal from the side table and began reading.

Several hours later and a couple journals in, Etta drifted off.

[unwrittentales]

Victor

It has been raining cats and dogs since the early morning in the land without colour. A man was walking restless through his chamber, stopping only for a short time to have a gander at the depressing sky. Since he woke up in the morning he have had that misgiving, that something pretty worse would happen soon. But the only worse occasion he could remind of already have taken place. He wasn't able to save his brothers character and to cap it all his father had to pay the price for that foul heart he dealed for. Finally Victor stood still and took a deep breath. He was a man of sience who wouldn't be swayed by bad feelings.
Slowly Victor run his fingers through his hair. His guest was in safety as nobody knew that she was hiding in his castle, so striclty speaking there was absolutely no reason for that strange feeling. Maybe he should prepare some food to have breakfast together with her...

[DarkSideCookie]

"Good evening, doctor...", suddenly a creepy voice sounded from behind.

Rumpelstiltskin was sitting in a chair on the other side of the room, beeing the only coloured part in here.
With putting his fingertips together he watched the doctor. There was absolutely no doubt he couldn't have forgotten him. He would remember the deal some years ago. And here he was. Back with another deal. The doctor will agree in this deal, too. He had to.

"And so we meet again.", Rumpel added slowly pronounced, let every word echo through the room.

[unwrittentales]

Victor

Lost in thoughts he was standing at the window having a short look out on the landscape right in front of the castle. He had prepared some food which he wanted to share with his guest but for some strange reason he was hesitating to meet her. Was it because of the plan to ask her to leave the dungeon? She wouldn't have to stay in that cell, the castle itself could be great prison, too. And she could have company as often as she whishes to have. Maybe he should have asked her right from the beginning. But then he reminds that serious expression on her face when she asked him to imprission her in his castle. No, he wouldn't ask her today he would only bring her some food and talk to her for some time. "Maybe tomorrow", he sighted.

"Good evening, doctor..." a voice appeared from behind his back. That voice... He would never forget the person belonging to that voice. Victor twirls around just to see that smugly looking gnome sitting on his favourite chair. "And so we meet again."

"I knew it would be a bad day, but that worse..." Victor was angrily looking at the man who betrayed him. The man who took his brother and father by one deal. "Whatever you want to, the answer will be 'no'. So don't ask for and just leave. You're not welcome in this castle."

[DarkSideCookie]

"I knew it would be a bad day, but that worse...", the doctor responded in a disgusted way.

Rumpelstiltskin made a bowing move, still sitting on the chair.

"Whatever you want to, the answer will be 'no'. So don't ask for and just leave. You're not welcome in this castle."

"Why so crabbed, deary?", he asked with an amused grin, now starting up from the chair to approach the doctor.
"Let me guess the reason.", Rumpel continued without letting his counterpart react, of course to tease him a little. "Could it be...? OH!", he suddenly spat out in a highvoiced tone, raising up his finger.
"The woman... down your little suite, isn't it?" His raised finger now pointed downward.
Rumpelstiltskin kept watching the doctor with an amused grin. Sure he would ask himself how Rumpel could knew about her, though he was hiding her for only some hours past.

[unwrittentales]

Victor

The gnome didn't react to his words as if he havn't noticed them or as if they were not assigned for him. Instead he proofed an alarming knowledge of what was going on in this castle.

Let me guess the reason. Could it be...? OH! The woman... down your little suite, isn't it? For a second that gnome reminds him of one of those witches existing in the superstitious vapouring of the commonality and against his inner beliefs he backed away from that creature. But than his logical thoughts gain the upper hand. Of course that gnome observed the castle and saw his guest arriving late in the night. A knowing smile showed on his face when he answered his opposite. "Nice try to attempting to irritate me with your so called 'powers' but believe me. Science has an answer for everything. So what's the reason for beeing here again?" With every spoken word he felt more confident.

[DarkSideCookie]

Rumpelstiltskin couldn't resist to show an amused smile, as the doctor backed away from him. He enjoyed the quit thoughts, which could be read off his face.

"Nice try to attempting to irritate me with your so called 'powers' but believe me. Science has an answer for everything. So what's the reason for beeing here again?"

Inwardly Rumpel rolled his eyes. He had to listen to this science nonsense right before...
"Just tell me something beforehand.", Rumpel said, watching him with a doubtfully look. "If your science has an answer for everything..."
Rumpelstiltskin again came closer. "Why could it not bring back your brother, deary?"
He couldn't resist on teasing him some little more. Sure they had not all the time in the world, but they had that amount of time, he would actually give them. As the next person on his list was certain already now.

[unwrittentales]

Victor

With a growing discomfort he was watching the gnome who finally left the chair and, with a sadistical smile on his face, came closer than he liked him to.

If your science has an answer for everything... Why could it not bring back your brother, deary?

He felt that his opponent striked a nerve. Intuitively Victor knew that the gnome was right but in the same way he knew that he was not able to admit his own insufficiency. Not here, not today and of course not in the present of that man. A suppressed growling while he was gnashing his teeth was all he was answering to Rumpelstiltskin even if he wanted to shout out his anger. Yes, Rumpelstiltskin was absolutely right. Science has not been that far to bring back the brother he has lost. Regretfully he thought about the creature he brought back to life. Victor was venting a sigh while was stroking the old Jacket he was wearing most of the time. "If you're here for no reason than leave. Leave at once and never come back again. I have a lot business to do and i bet you have to do what..." he examined his opponent. "...well, what you have to do."

[DarkSideCookie]

Rumpelstiltskin of course was aware that he striked a nerve. And of course he enjoyed it. Every time the doctor's lips went more down, Rumpel's raised higher. Magic has won. Magic always did.

"If you're here for no reason than leave. Leave at once and never come back again. I have a lot business to do and i bet you have to do what... well, what you have to do.

The same ignorance as Henrietta... That must have had to be some kind of a scentist-thing.
"Oh, there is a reason!", Rumpelstiltskin finally responded with a louder voice, raising up his finger. As he would give him a visit to have a chitchat... Tsk!
"That woman...", Rumpel continued, again pointing downward. "I do ask myself, if..." He came a little closer. "your science will be able to keep her safe." As it once worked on your brother, he added inwardly. But he had to be careful. The doctor was a contrary person. He wouldn't accept a deal, when teasing him too much.

[unwrittentales]

Victor

He listened to the words of the gnome. Of course he wanted to torment him with every little word, every action he did and it would be the best to just ignore that devious little guy but... Victor was wondering about the words and for a moment just remain silent. Deep in thoughts he frowned while he was slowly walking through the room as if he would teach a class or was solving a complex mathematic question. Again, he realized, that the unwelcome stranger had lead him astray.

"Nice try, again" He emphasized the last word. In future he should be more carefull when discussing with that guy. Well not meet him at all, if it was arrangeable. "We don't even need science to keep her safe. It's only..." Victor bit on his own tongue as he almost told that nosy stranger that Henrietta would be safe as long as none of the villager knew she was here. He sighted while knitting his brow.
"Well, I don't know what powers you think to have, but she is safe. And..." He was only an arm's length apart from that stranger. At the beginning of their conversation he felt insecure about his opponent but finally all was clear again and there was nothing that could change his mind. "...that's why I don't need your help." He passed the stranger and oppened the door of his room.
"I think you already know where to find the exit. Good day, Sir." Without turning to face that stranger he left his room to have a short walk to the cell. Just to ensure everything was in best order.

[DarkSideCookie]

Rumpelstiltskin was watching the doctor, while he was slowly walking around. After a while he was getting more and more impatient. Did he forget about him?

"Nice try, again", he finally raised the word. "We don't even need science to keep her safe. It's only..."

Blah-blah-science whatever... Won't they ever get bored of it?
The moment, Dr. Frankenstein paused, Rumpelstiltskin thought about the 'It's only...'. And then all of a sudden he knew how to draw that contrary person out. He didn't even need science, because she would be safe till that moment the villagers don't know she is here after all, wouldn't she? So, what if there will be such a moment...?

"Well, I don't know what powers you think to have, but she is safe. And..."

Rumpelstiltskin has been in thoughts and therefore was a bit astounded to see the doctor suddenly so close in front of him.

"...that's why I don't need your help.", the doctor ended up the sentence.

Rumpel's eyes followed his steps towards the door. Shall that stubborn git leave for now. He will crawl back to him later on.
With a knowing smile on his lips, he heard the doctor's last words and replied them just with a: "We will see, dearie!", before he exited the castle... on his way out of course.


**Rumpelstiltskin disappeared just within the room**

[unwrittentales]

Victor

The hours flew by since that stranger had left his castle in the early morning. In the first hours Victor had continously thought about that strange meeting but as he attended his business all his thoughts where focussed on his experiments.
It was already late in the evening when a strange noise made him startle from his work. For a moment Victor was totally confused as the noise sounded like villagers coming up to his castle. But thoughts like that would be ridiculous. The sad truth was that most of the villagers did not have any interest in his works. So who should visit him at a time like this? Victor already started some further measurements as muffled noise of the doorknocker sounded. Maybe he should just ignore them, he thought discontented. Pretend he was not at home or that he had not heard them.

Victor, open the doors. We know you're there. Open or we have to force open. Victor realized the voice of Utterson, the judge of their little town and from one second to the other his heart missed a beat.
"Henrietta..." he whispered while rushing the stairs down to the castles entrance. Maybe it was possible to stop them. Maybe he could convince them that they have to look for her somewhere else. And maybe, (a little voice hidden deep in his mind whispered hopefully) there was some other reason for their arrival.

But as soon as he opened the front door, without hearing any further word, he abandonned all hope. A mob with forks and torches was standing in front of his castle pouring in as soon as he had opened the door. They were moving directly to the cell, the place he had hidden her. And suddenly he knew that there was no word he could use to prevent them from discovering the truth of her whereabouts. And for the first time on this day he was whishing he hadn't declined the offer in the morning...

[DarkSideCookie]

Rumpelstiltskin was sitting on one of the castle's lower steepletops. Waiting.
It was some hours ago, as he paid a visit to the town judge, giving him the advice where to find Jekyll. He remembered the startled expression on the judge's face, even if he kept knowledge close to the vest by hiding under a hood. He wasn't that foolish to risk turmoil on himself. These fatuous villagers probably would have had grabbed on their forks and torches without hestitating.
A hint for a favor, he remembered himself saying to the judge. They got his hint... and he got his favor. Of course the judge had to consider it as unusual as the man's guise... Well, now everything would going to be perfect.

Rumpelstiltskin lowered his look to a little window illuminated by candles. Without a doubt it was the doctor's laboratory. He better should have listened to him. Otherwise... this was going to be much more fun.
Finally a noise let him look up the way leading to the town. They really had allowed themself plenty of time...
"five... four...", Rumpel was whispering to himself, counting on his finger's ends. "three... two..." The villagers were approaching the castle, equipped with forks and torches.
"Action.", he lastly ended the countdown and leaned back to enjoy the play down below.

Victor, open the doors. We know you're there. Open or we have to force open., the judge's voice sounded from below.

Rumpelstiltskin again leaned over the roof to have a better look. Yah, Viktor. Open the doors. Let in, what you have caused. A joyful smile was shown on the Dark One's lips.
The sound of an opening door, followed by the mob's balled up footsteps, were reaching his ears. Viktor seemed to open the door. What a mistake...
Rumpel made an ecstatic face, while harkening to the villager's steps inside the castle, heading to get Jekyll.

[unwrittentales]

Victor

He wasn't able to move while all that villagers past him tramping to the cells in the basement of his castle. The judge, a cruel average aged man, named Utterson told him to stay calm while they would take care for the monster which settled down in the castle. The judge bursted out sardonic laughter while he led the young man still stand at the front door taken by suprise. In his thoughts he was a brave warrior who would kick all of those intruder out but in reality he was still frozen. How could he ever think about being able to protect Henrietta? He could hear her screaming in the basement. Henrietta...

Finally he was able to break away. As fast as possible he ran down the stairs to her cell just to see three rough guys dragging her out her cell.
"Stop it" he screamed. "Let her be stay in these cells. She won't be able to leave them until the judgment will start. I insist on..." he couldn't continue as he was hit in the stomach by a gauntlet. Immediately he felt the air being pressed out his lungs. He felt to his knees,
unable to intervene in any form.

"I...will...accept your offer..." he whispered while the last villager left his castle. "Rumpel... forgive me, I will accept it..."